BTNF accepts $12 million offer for land parcel

PINEDALE – Officials at the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) announced they had accepted a $12 million offer to buy a portion of its administrative site in

Jackson.

Though the offer has been agreed to, the property remains actively listed.

The parcel consists of 10 acres located on North Cache Drive in Jackson and has been used as the site for the supervisor’s office, the Jackson Ranger District Office, employee housing and storage since the 1970s.

The decision to sell the 10-acre property was made in May 2013 in an effort to streamline the forest’s expenses and reduce overhead. In November 2013, an unnamed person submitted an offer of $11.55 million, but that offer was later withdrawn and the property was re-listed.

In total, the BTNF’s parcel consists of 15 acres. Ten acres will be sold, and the forest will retain the remaining five. Proceeds from the sale will be used to construct a replacement for the forest supervisor’s office, a warehouse and the conversion of the Jackson District Office into housing for temporary employees. The BTNF has emphasized the new buildings will be built in a manner “that fits with the character of Jackson.”

“One of the main issues and catalyst for the conveyance of the 10 acres is the need to reconstruct the almost 50-year-old supervisor’s office to meet current building standards and codes, modern sustainability and energy efficiency standards and reduce overall facilities costs,” BTNF Forest Supervisor Clint Kyhl said in a press release. “The employees in Jackson will temporarily work out of other office space while the construction is underway.”

The buyer, who was not identified, is currently working “on zoning and due diligence with the Town of Jackson,” Kyhl added.

The anticipated closing date for the parcel is this fall, and the hope is to begin constructing the new administrative building in the spring of 2015.